Major League Baseball organizations never stop tinkering with their personnel. They add players to their 25- and 40-man rosters and their farm systems continually.

Usually they do so because of injuries, or the moves come at the expense of other players. There's always a price associated. The currency is players, not money.

The same holds true for fantasy baseball owners. They operate with a limited number of picks in their drafts or with salary caps in their auctions. They have finite free agent acquisition budget (FAAB) funds and only so many — if any — spots on the disabled list or in the minors. Players are their markets' most treasured commodity.

The New York Yankees began spring training with questionable depth in the outfield as well as at first base, and shortstop Derek Jeter (broken ankle) was questionable. Yet the expectations for Matt Diaz and Juan Rivera seemed irrelevant before Curtis Granderson (broken forearm) and Mark Teixeira (torn tendon sheath in right wrist) were injured.

In the weeks that followed, New York fitted Ben Francisco, Brennan Boesch, Lyle Overbay and Vernon Wells for pinstripes. Casual observers might have seen little difference between those players and discarded Diaz and Rivera. The acquired players, particularly Wells, have played integral parts in the Yankees' solid start, however, and will provide high-quality depth when the stars become healthy.

But fantasy owners don't need to be as devoted as Yankees general manager Brian Cashman in order to win. This is already a time-consuming hobby. To be diligent requires effort, for sure, but just a little of it goes a long way. The subtle differences in the details between players can prove to be momentous.

In 10- and 12-team mixed leagues that use the middle infielder, a player such as Omar Infante is sometimes available. The Detroit Tigers second baseman is one of the steadiest in baseball but also seemingly one of the less appealing to the fantasy population.

Some fantasy owners play roulette by recycling hot players they perceive to have more upside. Infante plays every day in one of baseball's best lineups. He regularly contributes, even if the numbers aren't flashy.

When an injury strikes, owners who already have Infante might feel less alarmed than those who rostered Texas Rangers prospect Jurickson Profar, who is likely months from receiving an opportunity, let alone making an impact, or a flavor of the month such as the St. Louis Cardinals' Pete Kozma.

The Toronto Blue Jays were devastated to lose dynamic leadoff man and shortstop Jose Reyes for as much as three months. They already were biding time while third baseman Brett Lawrie (rib-cage strain) recovered.

Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos could make a trade to address Reyes' absence. Thankfully, manager John Gibbons has the flexibility to put slugger Jose Bautista at third base and Maicer Izturis at shortstop and Lawrie has played his natural position, second base, while rehabbing. This could give Toronto the means to fix its early struggles on offense and defense. Emilio Bonifacio is likely to split time in right field but could be an option at shortstop. Raji Davis could pick up time in the outfield or share with Bonifacio.

If fantasy owners are going to roster players who aren't in fantasy-helpful roles, they should compare and contrast those players' avenues to playing time as well as their abilities.

It's only a matter of time before Carlos Beltran requires a DL stint, or at least so goes the perception. In the event that the switch-hitting outfielder is injured, would St. Louis promote lauded prospect Oscar Taveras, who is owned in some mixed leagues?

The Cardinals are more likely to opt for hot-hitting first baseman Matt Adams (11-for-18 with three home runs) in the lineup and shift Allen Craig to the outfield, at least in the short term. Adams, 24, was a top prospect only a year ago and could be a difference-making fantasy pickup.

Perhaps nothing is more nauseating than the amusement-park ride on which closers take fantasy owners. A few major league teams already have experienced turnovers.

As history has demonstrated, more changes will occur, so fantasy owners who missed on Jim Henderson and Joaquin Benoit shouldn't fret. And those who were lucky enough to land those pitchers shouldn't relax. The Milwaukee Brewers would like to move John Axford back into the ninth inning, eventually. The Detroit Tigers haven't completely settled on Benoit; Motown might in time resort to a committee — or turn to recently signed Jose Valverde.

Read the warning signs and plan ahead. Joel Hanrahan has already encountered adversity (six earned runs, five walks and three home runs allowed entering the week), and it has cost the Boston Red Sox one game. Meanwhile, bullpen-mate Andrew Bailey wasn't highly sought, even in deep fantasy leagues, but it's clear he is healthy and pitching with the skills that made him a successful closer for a few years.

But some fantasy owners are reluctant to discard players they drafted in order to take chances on others who might never yield significant returns. Washington Nationals relief pitcher Drew Storen was a popular late-round choice in mixed leagues, but he's nowhere close to earning save opportunities, so the decision should be easy in his case or that of a fringe starting pitcher.

Baseball GMs know players they'd like to have, even if they can't find room for them or aren't able to sacrifice for them at any particular time. They don't hope for bad news, but when they get some, GMs often know where they want to go for help.

Fantasy owners who take time to browse the free agent pool can familiarize themselves with its general population. They can then tell who'd be the better and worse pickups, even if they have nowhere to put new players. They're better prepared for future waiver runs, not just the next one, because the pool will change only gradually.

When the opportunity to upgrade — even by the smallest margin — presents itself, consider it. The difference might seem negligible at a time when high-quality depth is a luxury. It becomes magnified when a crisis hits, when replacements are necessities.

April might be the most difficult time of year to make decisions. At no other time do baseball players cause fantasy owners so much anxiety. Should I pick him up? Cut him? Trade him? Wait for him? If they remain focused on improving their depth instead of contemplating the meaning of short-term results, they should find it easier to cope. They'll allow for time to clarify some of their false hopes and doubts, too, and their rosters will be stronger in the long run.